J Rockett Audio Clockwork Echo

The J Rockett Audio Clockwork Echo is an analog delay pedal with modulation, built around classic bucket-brigade (BBD) delay chips and developed with Howard Davis, the creator of the original Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man¹. Released in 2021 after four years of development, it was the first pedal in J Rockett's Vintage Series²¹³. It runs from doubling and slapback up to a maximum delay time of 600ms, with tap tempo, footswitchable modulation and a true stereo output⁴¹⁵.

The maker pitches it squarely at players who want the vintage Memory Man character in a modern format: "This is as musical as an echo can get, go from lush long delays to amazing room like slap back echoes"⁶.

The controls and footswitches

The delay side is set up with standard Time and Repeats knobs, plus a mix control and an output level control for the built-in preamp boost⁴⁵. The Time knob runs from an almost imperceptible setting, which produces chorus and Leslie-type sounds, all the way to 600ms of delay⁷. Repeats go from a single echo to runaway feedback: "REPEATS, sets the amount of repeats. Go from one repeat all the way to crazy oscillation"⁷. Guitar World's reviewer notes that the repeats take off into oscillation at a certain point of the Repeats knob⁴.

There are three footswitches: one bypass footswitch for the effect, one for turning the modulation on and off, and one for tap tempo, which works up to 600ms⁴¹³. The modulation section has its own speed and depth controls and, with short delay settings, can deliver chorus, rotating speaker and even flange sounds⁶¹⁰⁹.

The output level control is worth noting on its own: the maker calls it an "Always On" boost which can be used whether the delay is engaged or not, so the pedal can act as a preamp even when the echo is bypassed⁶⁹⁵.

Stereo output and expression inputs

The Clockwork Echo has a standard mono input and standard L and R outputs, giving true stereo operation with one side out of phase⁶⁴¹. Gearnews describes the appeal: "You can get the full effect of the delay via the stereo output, with one side phase-shifted"⁵. Guitar World's reviewer adds a caveat that the way the stereo output is configured won't suit everyone⁴.

There are two expression pedal inputs, one dedicated to Repeats and one to Delay Time, so both parameters can be swept on the fly with external expression pedals⁶⁴¹⁵.

Designed with Howard Davis

The Clockwork Echo's story is tied to the Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man. It was designed in conjunction with Howard Davis, the creator of the original Deluxe Memory Man, and is modeled on that circuit⁶¹¹¹⁵³. MusicRadar puts it plainly: "you'd find the DMM's original designer, Howard Davis, in agreement, too, as he sat in with J Rockett for the development"¹.

Where it differs from the old Memory Man is in the wrapper. The delay path uses analog bucket-brigade chips, but they are digitally controlled for tap speed, with the rest of the circuit purely analog⁴¹⁵. MusicRadar's verdict on the comparison:

Guitar World's reviewer reached a similar conclusion on the sound: "If you want BBD analogue sound rather than a digital approximation of it then J Rockett's Clockwork Echo is the real deal"⁴. Pedal of the Day echoed the maker's own language, calling it "as musical as an echo can get"⁷.

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